Adjustable body support



3, 1940- J. w. BUTTIKOFER 1,

ADJUSTABLE BODY SUPPORT Filed Dec. 19, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l W w, I I. all l INVENTOR ATTORNEY J. W. BUTTIKOFER ADJUSTABLE BODY SUPPORT Filed Dec. 19, 1938' 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 V ATTO R N EY Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITE STATES 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in back or head rests and the like, and more particularly to an adjustable type of back or head rest for use with beds and the like.

Back rests are greatly desired by persons such as invalids or convalescents who are obliged to spend a large part of their time in bed and who desire to sit up in order to read, write and so forth. Persons afilicted with asthma or recover- 10 ing from certain types of operations are often obliged to rest in a semi-upright position.

Previous devices for enabling persons to rest in a sitting position are unsatisfactory for various reasons. An ordinary pile of pillows soon 5 becomes pushed out of shape and uncomfortable; certain types of back rests provided with a bar fitting into slots are difficult to operate and allow only a limited number of positions for adjustment; regular hospital beds are far too expensive 20 for many persons to purchase, and in addition are frequently complicated and difficult to operate. None of the above mentioned prior devices may be easily manipulated or adjusted from a reclining position by the person using the bed.

The present invention aims to overcome or minimize the above and other difficulties by providing a back rest which is easily adjustable to an infinite number of different positions, and which may be adjusted by the person using the device without moving from a reclining position. The invention also contemplates providing a back rest that may be incorporated into a bed frame or used separately.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved type of back rest.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a back rest which may be easily adjusted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of adjusting means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a back rest which may be adjusted to an infinite number of positions.

Another object of the present invention is to 45 provide a back rest which may be easily operated by the person using the device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a back rest which may be easily operated by the person using it without moving from a resting position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a back rest which may be adjusted electrically or manually.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a back rest which may be readily and inexpensively manufactured.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention is practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a preferred wiring diagram;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a preferred type of switch;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the switch illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 illustrates the limit switches in normal position;

Fig. 6 illustrates the limit switches in extreme upper position;

Fig. '7 illustrates the limit switches in extreme lower position;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another form of the device;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of a preferred form of shaft retaining means; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of means for manually operating the device illustrated in Figs.

1 and 8.

Described generally, the invention contemplates a head or body rest adapted to be sold as a separate unit applicable to beds generally by being placed on the springs under the mattress at one end thereof. In another form the head or body rest may be attached to or made a part of the bed or bed spring to raise one end of the mattress to form a raised inclined body rest for a person in the bed. In both cases an improved mechanism is utilized for raising and lowering the head rest. While the mechanism may be 4.5 operated manually, the invention provides auto-- matic means which may be operated by the person in the bed without strain or discomfort either to raise or to lower the rest. This may be achieved by an electric motor operatively con nected to the mechanism with suitable controls near. the bed.

Referring again to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, a preferred embodiment of the invention is combined with and forms a part of a bed spring such as is applicable to beds generally. It will be understood that various types of springs may be utilized, but for illustrative purposes the springs are shown comprising a rectangular frame I formed from angle irons or the like having springs or wires 8 extending across the frame for supporting a mattress. The wires may be attached to the frame by the springs ID.

The frame 2 for the head rest is pivotally secured to the spring frame I. The back rest 2 preferably comprises a pair of side bars 4 pivoted to the sides of the spring frame or base I at points 5 adjacent their lower ends and connected adjacent their upper ends by a cross-bar I. The side bars 4 and cross bar I may be made in one piece from any suitable stock shape structural member and in Fig. 1 a stock commonly referred to as an angle bar is illustrated. Wires 8 connected to the side bars 4 by springs ID serve to resiliently support a mattress in position on the device, but it will be understood that various other means may be used for performing this function.

The back rest 2 may be maintained in different positions by supporting members or braces II pivotally secured adjacent their upper ends to the cross-bar I by means of pins, rivets, bolts I3 or the like, and pivotally secured in a similar manner adjacent their lower ends to threaded members or nuts I4 carried by a threaded shaft I6 which will be hereinafter described. The threaded members I4 are adapted to move together or apart with respect to each other along the shaft I 6 which carries or guides them, and as the threaded members I4 move along the shaft IS, the lower ends of the supporting members II also are moved together or apart. This changes the inclination of the back rest. When the lower ends of the supporting members II are at their outermost positions adjacent the sides of the base I, their full lengths are effective to support the rearward edge of the frame 2. Hence, in this relation, the frame 2 will be inclined at its greatest angle with respect to the base I. The supporting members are so proportioned that when their lower ends are at an innermost position adjacent each other and the center of the shaft IS, the frame 2 will be substantially horizontal and lie close to the base I. This result may be obtained by making the length of each of the supporting members I I approximately equal to one-half the effective length of the shaft I6, or, in other words, approximately equal to one-half the width of the base I. The frame 2 may be maintained at an infinite number of positions between its uppermost and lowermost positions by the supporting members II, depending upon the positions of the threaded members I4 along the shaft IS.

The present cooperating shaft and brace construction, in addition to providing an infinite number of adjusting positions, obviates the use of braces which project downwardly below a bed spring at any time where they are unsightly, in the way and may injure one. The shaft, threaded members and braces provide, in effect, a toggle joint which simplifies raising and lowering of the back rest. Also, the construction facilitates movement of the braces and the head rest in a manner about to be described.

Movement of the threaded members I which are effective to change the inclination of the back rest is controlled by the threaded shaft I6 which carries or guides them. This shaft may be mounted beneath the base I by suitable brackets or arm H to provide for mounting an operating means thereon, as will be hereinafter described. Longitudinal movement of the shaft may be prevented by nuts or enlarged portions at its ends (not shown). The shaft has a right hand thread thereon for substantially one-half its length and a left hand thread thereon for substantially the other one-half its length and is adapted to cooperate with the nuts or threaded members I4 which are also provided with right and left hand threads respectively. Rotation of the shaft IS in one direction causes the nuts I4 to approach each other and the frame 2 to descend. Rotation of the shaft in an opposite direction causes the nuts I4 to separate and the frame 2 to rise. It will be understood that the threaded members I4 may be mounted upon the threaded shaft I6 so that rotation of the shaft in one direction will effect movement of the threaded members toward each other and will cause the frame 2 to rise instead of descending, and rotation of the shaft in an opposite direction will effect movement of the threaded members apart from each other and will cause the frame to descend instead of rising.

The threaded shaft I6 is preferably rotated by a suitable electric motor I9 through the intermediation of a gear 28 on the threaded shaft I6 and a worm 22 on the motor shaft 23. Rotation of the motor in one direction causes the shaft I6 to move the threaded members toward each other and rotation of the motor in an opposite direction causes the shaft I6 to move the threaded members away from each other, thus lowering or raising the back rest through the supporting members I I which are moved with the threaded members l4. The motor may be controlled by the switches S1 and S2 of a switch box 25, the

switches being connected into the circuit to causes the motor to rotate so as to move the back rest upwardly and releasing the up switch stops the motor I9 and back rest 4 at any desired position. Pressing the down switch S2 causes rotation of the motor in an opposite direction and downward movement of the frame 2. Releasing the down switch S2 stops the downward movement of the frame 2.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate a preferred wiring diagram and the switch for achieving the above referred to operation and control of the device. A knife type of switch is shown in Fig. 2 in order to simplify the diagram, the push type of switch shown in Figs. 3 and 4 being intended to supplant the knife switch in actual practice.

One way of changing the direction of rotation of a motor is to change the direction of the current passing through its armature without changing the direction of the current through the field coil or vice versa. With the up side S1 of the controlling switch closed current will pass from theincoming power line 26, through one side of the controlling switch and up through the armature A, to rotate the motor so as to move the back rest upwardly, thence through the other side of the controlling switch and the upper limit switch L1 (to be later described), and finally out the returning power line 28. With the down side S2 of the controlling switch closed the operation will be as follows: current from the incoming power line will pass through the line side of the switch may be closed at a time.

leading to the lower limit switch L2 (to be later described), through the limit switch L2, on through one side of the controlling switch and down through the armature A in an opposite direction, to rotate the motor so as to move the back rest downwardly, through the other side of the controlling switch and out by the returning power line 28. In both positions of the switch S the current passes through the: field coil F in the same direction.

The switches illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and which are intended to replace the knife switch of Fig. 2 in actual practice are similar to. the walking beam type of switch wherein only one That is, the moving parts of each of the push buttons S1 and S2 is connected to a cross member 29 which is supported on a pivot 35 adjacent its center. If, for example, the up button S1 is closed, the down button will be moved away from its contacts. It is impossible to close both buttons at the same time. Springs 32 and 3t may be utilized beneath the up and down buttons S1 and S2 to maintain them in a neutral position.

While in Fig. 3 each switch is shown effective on one circuit only, the switches actually control both the field and armature circuits as shown in Fig. 4. The control for the second circuit being back of the first is not visible in Fig. 3'.

Preferably some means is utilized toprevent the back rest from moving too far upwardly or downwardly and jamming the gear 29 and worm tightly together. The limit switches L1 and L2 referred to in connection with the wiring diagram of Fig. 2 are for this purpose and are shown in Fig. 1 adjacent the upper part of one of the back rest side bars. These switches are preferably of the mercury type and comprise a casing or tube having sealed therein a pair of contacts and a globule of mercury. When the sealed tube is tilted in one direction, the mercury globule closes the two contacts and allows current to pass. When the tube is tilted in an opposite direction, the mercury globule moves away from the two contacts and interrupts the current. In the preferred embodiment (Figs. 5, 6 and '7) two of these automatic switches are shown in their approximate relative positions adjacent the free end of one of the back rest side bars 2, but it is to be understood that they may be placed in any other convenient position where their operation will be achieved due to movement of the back rest.

When the back rest is in any intermediate position (Fig. 5) both switches have their contacts closed and the back rest may be caused to move up or down by pressing either one of the switches S1 or S2. As the back rest approaches its extreme upper position the upper limit switch L1 is automatically opened (Fig. 6) and only the down switch S2 is operative to eifect movement of the back rest. The lower limit switch L2 automatically breaks the down circuit as the back rest approaches its extreme lower position (Fig. '7) and only the up switch S1 may 'be op erated to cause movement of the back rest.

In Fig. 8, there is shown a modified form of construction in which the back. rest is made as a separate unit, that is, the back rest is not built into the springs of a bed. In this modification, the base la, which serves the function of the bed spring frame I, and the back rest 2a are illustrated made from members having channelshaped cross sections pivotally secured together adjacent their free ends 3. The back rest 2a carries a suitable mattress or pillow supporting means such as thewires 8 and springs. Hldescribed in connection with the bed unit and is controlled by braces i la and threaded members Ma also similar to those described in connection with Fig. 1.

The threaded shaft Ilia, of this modified construction which controls the movement of the threaded members ,Ma. and the braces Ila is illustrated mounted in apertures or recess 6 at the sides of the base in and may be retained 'withinthe recess 6 by straps or cross members 9 secured to the sides of the base la by rivets, bolts or the like l2 (Fig. 9). If desired, the shaft may be held within the recess by welding together the upper sides of the recess above the shaft. Longitudinal movement of the shaft may be prevented by nuts or enlarged portions adjacent its ends (not shown) as described in connection with the preferred embodiment. Recesses in the sides 4a of the channel members forming the frame 2a are adapted to receive the shaft Eta. as the frame approaches its lowermost position, thus permitting the frame to assume a more nearly horizontal position.

Preferably the'motor [9a, shaft 23a and worm 22a which serve to rotate the gear Eda and the threaded shaft [6a are secured at the side of the base la, at an angle to the horizontal (Fig. 8). In this way there is eliminated the necessity of providing a separate mounting bracket or the I sired. Forexampie, a suitable source of electricity is not always available. Where such is the case, the head rest may be operated manually, and in Fig. 4 there is illust ated a .peferred means for so doing. One end of the threaded shaft 86 is provided with a crank comprising an extension 35 secured to the shaft It with a handle 35 adjacent its end. Turning the crank rotates the threaded shaft l6 and operates the head rest similarly to the electric motor, worm and gear.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an improved and inexpensive head rest which may be easily adjusted electrically or manually to an infinite number of positions. Where the device is electrically operated, the current supply to the electric motor will be automatically cut off at the extreme upper or lower position. The device may be incorporated into a bed or manufactured as a separate unit, requires no special skill to operate, and is rugged in conconstruction and well able to withstand any rough usage to which it may be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a unitary portable back supporting device separate from a bed frame adapted to be readily applied to beds, in combination a base member adapted! to be mounted on a bed frame. a back rest member hinged at one end to said base member, an electric motor mounted on one of said members, means for operatively connecting said motor to said back rest to raise and lower it about the hinged end thereof, and a pair of electric switches mounted on said back rest and operatively connected to the motor circuit, said switches being adapted automatically to stop said motor independently of objects ex ternal to said device when said back rest member has reached predetermined upper and lower positions.

2. In a unitary portable supporting device separate from a bed frame and adapted to be applied to beds generally, the combination of a base adapted to be mounted on a bed frame, a back rest hinged at one end to said base, an electric motor mounted on said device, means for operatively connecting said motor to said back rest to raise and lower it about the hinged end thereof, and a pair of liquid operated switches mounted on said back rest with the containers for the liquid being at difierent angles with respect to said back rest, whereby one switch will be operated by the liquid therein when the back rest reaches a predetermined lower position and the other switch will be operated by the liquid therein when the back rest reaches a predetermined upper position, said switches being operatively connected to the motor circuit to stop the motor.

3. In a unitary portable back supporting device separate from a bed frame adapted to be laid on the springs of a bed, in combination, a

base member separate from and adapted to be laid on the springs of a bed adjacent one end thereof, a back rest member hinged at one end to said base member, an electric motor mounted on said base member, means for operatively connecting said motor to said back rest to raise and lower it about the hinged end thereof, and a pair of electric switches mounted on said back rest and operatively connected to the motor circuit, said switches being adapted automatically to stop said motor independently of objects external to said device when said back rest member has reached predetermined upper and lower positions.

4. In a unitary portable back supporting device separate from a bed frame adapted to be readily applied to beds, in combination, a spring supporting member adapted to be mounted on a bed frame, a back rest member hinged at one end to said spring supporting member intermediate the ends thereof, an electric motor mounted on one of said members, means for operatively connecting said motor to said back rest to raise and lower it about the hinged end thereof, and a pair of electric switches mounted on said back rest and operatively connected to the motor circuit, said switches being adapted automatically to stop said motor independently of objects external to said device when said back rest member has reached predetermined upper and lower positions.

JOHN W. BUTTIKOFER. 

